A Guide to Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park in Winter

Imagine a dusting of snow coating the strange, towering red rock hoodoos and a complex of amphitheaters and arches; that’s Bryce Canyon National Park in the wintertime for you. This Utah national park is a sight to behold in the snowy season, where mystical fantasy and charm abound. Sitting at an elevation of almost 9,000 ft (2,743 m), Bryce Canyon receives nearly 100 ft (30 m) of snow annually, making it a high-elevation scenic wonder. In fact, most people, and which is very, very few compared to its summer crowds, visit Bryce Canyon National Park in winter to see and photograph the stunning contrast between the white snow and the towering red rock hoodoos that the region is famous for.

Wintertime visits to Bryce Canyon promise not just opportunities for XC skiing, snowshoeing, and the likes, but also loads of other winter fun, but like winter festivals, winter astronomy, and more. It’s no surprise that it happens to be one of the best national parks to see in winter and is also one of the most compelling reasons to explore Utah. Here’s a detailed guide to visiting Bryce Canyon in wintertime.

Weather

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Bryce Canyon National Park could get very cold during wintertime, even colder than Zion National Park. It could be possible since the park’s plateau is somewhat wetter and cooler due to its elevation, like a green island in the middle of a red desert. So, we prepared for the snow and the cold, checking current weather forecasts and conditions as much as possible.

Usually, winter daytime highs are just slightly above freezing, but there were a lot of cold snaps. In fact, winter temperatures in the park have plunged as low as -26 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 degrees Celsius), with subzero temperatures occurring during any of the winter months. Most nights from October to May are freezing, with the possibility of it snowing as well, with December through February being the coldest.

We invested in a Garmin inReach Mini 2, one of the best hiking walkie-talkies, which added a ton of peace of mind to our adventures without adding too much weight to our packs.

Bryce Canyon Visitor Center

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It might seem like a drab activity to do, but visiting the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center is one of the best ways to begin your exploration of the national park. For one, the visitor center here is open only between 8 am and 4:30 pm during winter. So, it’s a great idea to keep all adventuring limited to these hours, especially if it’s your first time in the park, since the center could be a great help during emergencies. What’s more, the visitor center provided us with a wealth of information about the weather for the day and the climate in the days ahead. It also sold useful winter/snow gear like traction devices, which is useful if you’ve forgotten anything.

However, one of the top reasons to visit the visitor center first is because it’s the only place where you can sign-up for the guided Bryce Canyon winter moon snowshoe hike. You need to get there to reserve a spot in person for the day’s tour at 8 am as not only is space limited but also there’s no way to sign up in advance. That’s because these they also require a sufficient staff level and a depth of snow to make them happen. So, if you’re lucky enough to be visiting the national park in the winter and that too during a full moon, make sure to reach the visitor center first!

Bryce Canyon Rim Trail

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One of the most family-friendly activities that one can enjoy in Bryce Canyon National Park in winter is walking the wheelchair and stroller-friendly Rim Trail from Sunrise to Sunset Points. Following the rim of the main amphitheater, the paved mile-long (1.6 km) roundtrip trail was accessible even in severe winter weather! Even though it had steep elevation changes along the way, we could walk the length of the trail. What’s more, this paved section of the trail is also pet-friendly, which means Fido can tag along too.

If you’re looking for something a tad more romantic and cozier, you can also book this magical 20–30-minute horse-drawn sleigh ride along the Rim Trail. With sweeping views of the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, these winter rides should be reserved by phone, and that too 48 hours in advance. Find out more information at the Ruby’s Inn Horseback Riding website.

Interestingly, the trail is actually longer, stretching from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point, a 5.5-mi-long (8.9 km) one-way hike.

Luxurious Stay at The Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn

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The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, the only lodging inside the park, shuts in the winter. So, the next best place to stay, which is also the most luxurious around, is the Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City. Not only is the hotel practically next to the entrance to the park, but also, it’s next to the only entrance to Bryce Canyon! Hence, it’s not surprising that Ruby’s has had a near-monopoly on staying at Bryce Canyon since it opened in 1916.

However, that doesn’t in the least mean that this Best Western outpost takes its guests for granted — if anything, it’s the exact opposite. Not only does the resort have comfortable and spacious digs, but it also had a ton of staying options. These included regular rooms and suites, group tents, a huge RV park, tipis, and camping! What’s more, it had a plethora of amenities, including indoor/outdoor swimming pools, a restaurant and a bar, and even horseback rides and helicopter and ATV tours. Did you know that Ruby’s Inn also lends snowshoes/microspikes for rent? Yep.

Scenic Drives

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Driving through Bryce Canyon in wintertime is one of the most popular things to do in the national park. Since we could stay warm in our car and hop out at the many different and gorgeous overlooks to click dreamy photos, there was nothing better that we could ask for. After stopping at the visitor center, we learnt about safety tips, which trails were open, and current weather conditions, so do add that to your to-do roster too. That’s because some roads could be shut after a snowstorm, while others could be left unplowed in the wintertime to allow for snowshoers.

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However, roads that lead to favorite our overlooks like Sunset and Sunrise Points, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point would usually be plowed right away for easier access. Since we had one entire day dedicated to our scenic drive, we could drive to every overlook point in the park. Besides the above, we even visited Paria point on snowshoes and the Navajo Loop Trail from the Sunset Point parking lot.

Festivals and Events

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One of the most exciting events during wintertime in Bryce Canyon National Park is the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival. This annual collaboration between the national park and Ruby’s Inn, the host, usually falls over President’s Day Weekend in February.

What’s more, this family-friendly festival features a bunch of free activities for people of all skill levels, interests, and ages. Outdoor activities include everything from guided XC skiing and snowshoeing tours, ice skating, wildlife tracking, and even archery and astronomy lessons. However, that’s not all. There are a bunch of indoor activities as well, which include the likes of photography workshops, pottery-making, yoga, and even arts and crafts classes.

While the festival is open to everyone for experiencing it, keep in mind that you need to stay at Ruby’s Inn to participate in the extra activities. However, it does look like a lot of fun, so plan your trip that way.

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Winter Hiking

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One of the most thrilling outdoor activities to do in Bryce Canyon in winter is hiking the many trails. Two of the most popular day hikes, which we also indulged in, were the Rim Trail, which we mentioned above, and the Navajo Loop Trail. Hiking among the hoodoos at the Navajo Loop Trail is one of the most thrilling experiences we had in the park. Despite the ‘loop’ in the title, the trail us actually a mile-long (1.6 km) out-and-back one. Even then, it was slightly strenuous because we were doing it in the now.

Another thing you could do is hike a figure-eight combination of multiple trails, which a park ranger at the Visitor’s Center suggested. You begin with the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point and the Queen’s Garden Trail before joining the Peekaboo Loop Trail. After returning to this joiner trail, head down the Navajo Loop Trail back to Sunset Point, before finishing off with a short jaunt to Inspiration Point. This 6-mi-long hike (9.6 km) takes the entire day but is absolutely stunning and devoid of foot traffic.

Interestingly, the national park also has specific snowshoe trails for experienced snowshoers, like the Bristlecone Loop and Rim Trails. However, since the roads leading to Paria View and Fairyland Viewpoint are shut for road traffic in winter, they make for the perfect snowshoe trails too. Of course, there are also free ranger-led snowshoe hikes.

Besides Walmart ski clothing, you also need to carry additional traction devices, like hiking microspikes and ski poles.

Winter Camping

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If you want to winter camp in Bryce Canyon, then there’s only one place to do it — quite literally. The North Campground, which is within walking distance of the visitor center, is the only wintertime campground open in Bryce Canyon. What’s more, it’s first come, first served in this off season, but many people shy away from camping at these chilly 8000-ft-high temperatures.

However, when we did, we had the campground nearly to ourselves, with just a few other campers around, and it was a memorable experience. Since we were within walking distance of the visitor center, we had access to many amenities. Moreover, we had the choice of 30 sites (no dumping or potable water in winter, so carry your own) in Loop A, the only loop available for winter camping. Not only was it more affordable than lodging, but it also made for a unique experience of staying inside the park, since the only other within-park staying option shuts in winter.

Stargazing

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Did you know that Bryce Canyon National Park happens to be a designated International Dark Sky Park? This means that its elevation and distance is so much from urban living that light pollution doesn’t affect its night sky clarity. That’s why one of the most popular activities here is stargazing.

“Stargazing at Bryce Canyon was an otherworldly experience; we couldn’t believe we were on earth!”

WOW Travel

Wintertime is no exception, with park ranger-led astronomy programs and talks when the weather conditions are clear. You can even stargaze all bundled up from Sunset point, where you can be close to your car. Since we visited Bryce Canyon during a full moon and got lucky with the weather, we were even able to see the Milky Way on a clear night! On the ranger-led snowshoe hike, we had the unique and rare opportunity to see the snow-capped hoodoos aglow under the starry sky and winter moonlight. So, be sure to check the visitor center schedule when you arrive at the national park.

Laidback, Exciting Snow Adventures

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Snowy activities in Bryce Canyon go beyond traditional ones like skiing, which ensure that the entire family can enjoy, even little kids. For instance, Ruby’s Inn features an ice ribbon at its Winter Adventure Center. It was a great place to spend a day skating with the kids during the winter festival. While Bryce Canyon does have some snow tubing areas near the canyon rim, there are very few tubing and sledding areas here due to the nature of the landscape. However, there are fantastic snow tubing options in the nearby Red Canyon, which is less than a 20-minute drive from Bryce Canyon. Please note that snow activities off the canyon rim are prohibited.

Another great laidback activity in winter, especially for anglers, is ice fishing. Panguitch Lake, which lies less than an hour from Bryce Canyon, is one of the most popular fishing lakes in the region. Tucked in the Dixie National Forest at an elevation of 8,400 ft (2,560 m), the name of the lake comes from the Paiute word for “big fish.” And trust us, there’s no shortage of big fish here. Do pack your ice fishing jackets, ice fishing gloves, and underwater ice-fishing cameras.

Thrilling, High-Octane Snow Adventures

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The best thing to do in Bryce Canyon in wintertime is, obviously, the bevy of high-octane activities in the snow. Skiing is one of the most popular activities here, with cross-country skiing via the Paria Loop and Rim Trail being extremely popular. Besides ranger-guided snowshoe hikes in the day, there was also snowboarding at Brianhead Resort. Moreover, Ruby’s Inn also had snowshoeing tours, more XC skiing, and even sleigh rides!

We also had a blast snowmobiling at Brian Head nearby. The thrilling guided snowmobile tour with Thunder Mountain Motor Sports, and it was an absolute rush. One way to make the ride cheaper is sharing a snowmobile, but it’s all the more fun when each of you have a snowmobile to explore on the 1.5/3-hour tour. And since they’re right next to the Cedar Breaks National Monument, the views along the trails were simply mesmerizing.

How long do you need in Bryce Canyon?

Two mights and three days are the perfect amount of time to explore Bryce Canyon National Park.

How long are the scenic drives in Bryce Canyon?

The main park road from the north entrance to the end (Rainbow at Yovimpa Points) is 18 mi (29 km). The last 15 mi (24 km) after the Bryce Amphitheater area along the road is known as the “Southern Scenic Drive.”

Can I see Bryce Canyon without hiking?

Absolutely, its scenic drives allow you to explore the park’s majestic scenery along the All-American Road, Highway 12, which have paved overlooks.